CSG passes budget act, fails to pass Gaza reparations act

The University of Michigan Central Student Government met in the East Room in Pierpont Commons Tuesday evening to discuss Assembly Initiatives 24-001, The Wolverines’ Budget Act and 24-002, the Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act.

The meeting began with community concerns, during which over 30 U-M students and a professor from Birzeit University shared their thoughts on the Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act. The petition sought to set aside a donation to Rebuilding Hope, a Birzeit University initiative aiming to support and resume higher education in Gaza, funding student education and assisting in rebuilding educational infrastructure. 

Birzeit University Professor Ala Alazzeh expressed his support for the Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act, which included setting aside $440,000 for the initiative. Alazzeh discussed how the Israeli military campaign has led to the destruction of many institutions for higher education in Gaza. 

“Around 88,000 students are now without education,” Alazzeh said. “The Rebuilding Hope Initiative of Birzeit University, which is located in the west, is providing online education for students right now.”

Engineering senior Jenin Alameddin shared her intentions to discuss the testimony of a child in Gaza who cannot go to school. Instead, she expressed her outrage toward others in the meeting for silencing students’ voices.

“I was going to come up here and talk about a testimony of a child that can’t go to school, but I’m kind of disgusted with everybody here,” Alameddin said. “It’s hard to say that I can respect any of you guys as you silence the voices of our students here at Michigan, we are asking you guys to send money to fund education for students that don’t have school.” 

LSA Representative Anthony DiMeglio said he believes the temporary student organization funding provided by the University goes against the wants of the student body, and that it was important for students to vote on this issue directly.

“The University administration already circumvented the will of the people and the will of the study body in providing alternative funding for student organizations,” DiMeglio said. “So now you have the opportunity to do something bold and transformative, put something onto the ballot, to put the voice and the decision back in the hands of the people of your student body that you’re here to represent, to choose on this important issue.” 

CSG then transitioned to voting on The Wolverines’ Budget Act and Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act.

The Assembly passed The Wolverines’ Budget Act with 21 votes for and 15 against. Previously, CSG President Alifa Chowdhury vetoed the last two CSG budgets. The Wolverines’ Budget Act establishes a budget for student programs, services, operations and discretionary costs for the fall 2024 semester. Student organizations will also receive their regular funding, but must repay the University for any temporary funds used since the beginning of the semester. .

In an email to The Michigan Daily following the meeting, LSA senior Mario Thaqi, speaker of the Assembly, wrote that the petition would resume funding for student organizations and other programs. 

“The petition effectively puts into place a budget for the Fall Semester, resuming student organization funding and all the other programs CSG offers like disability advocacy, sexual misconduct prevention and survivor empowerment, Airbus transportation, elections, student organization funding, and any projects or programming the Assembly has in mind,” Thaqi wrote.

The Assembly then voted on the Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act. The petition failed, with 16 in support and 22 against. The vote would have amended the Compiled Code — the document listing all regulations affecting CSG — and enacted a budget to support low-income U-M students and students in Gaza.

After the passage of The Wolverines’ Budget Act and failure of the Rebuilding Education in Gaza Act, CSG cut the meeting short after meeting attendees reacted negatively to the outcome, according to Thaqi. 

“After its passage, multiple members were met with harassment, intimidation, assault (spitting and touching people) by people associated with CSG President and VP / Tahrir Coalition,” Thaqi wrote. “Members were followed home and had to be escorted out by police for their safety.” 

Daily Staff Reporter Kate Levy can be reached at kjlevy@umich.edu.

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